Abstract
It was shown that own (vs. other) race baby faces capture attention automatically whereas other race babies do not (Hodsoll et al., 2010). Other literature provided evidence of an innate preferential response to baby faces (baby schema effect). We investigated whether infant (vs. adult) faces automatically attracted attention (exogenous orienting), and whether this was modulated by ethnicity. 30 students took part in this study. Their task was to decide whether a lateralized target was upright or inverted. Targets were preceded by 400 baby or adult (Caucasian vs. non-Caucasian) faces shortly flashed in the same location, thus acting as spatial cues (valid/invalid). Results showed no effect of the ethnic group but of face age in speeding up RTs to targets preceded by baby faces. Significant costs for invalid locations cued by baby faces were also found (difficulty in disengagement). The data indicate how visual attention is literally captured by baby schema, independent of baby race.
Highlights
It is known that baby faces have stronger attentional capture capabilities than adult faces, or other visual objects
We investigated whether infant faces automatically attracted attention, and whether this was modulated by ethnicity. 30 students took part in this study
reaction times (RTs) analysis showed the significant effect of face age (F(1, 28) = 8.1, p < 0.0075), with faster RTs to targets preceded by baby (502.8, SE = 9.99 ms) than adult faces (506 ms, SE = 9.77)
Summary
It is known that baby faces have stronger attentional capture capabilities than adult faces, or other visual objects. Baby faces are perceived as cute and this is thought to increase the adult motivation to take care of infants (Glocker et al, 2009). Other neuroimaging studies have investigated the neural circuits subtending the brain response to infant as opposed to adult faces identifying the neural circuit by which baby schema promotes human caregiving. This system includes, besides the accumbens nucleus, the fusiform gyrus (face fusiform area) and the medial orbitofrontal cortex (Kringelbach et al, 2008; Leibenluft et al, 2004; Nitschke et al, 2004; Proverbio et al, 2011). It has been estimated that the perceived cuteness diminished after the age of 4.5 years (Luo et al, 2011) when the consistent baby growth significantly alters the infant face proportions
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